Studies

Great Article On How Light Affects The Mind & Body...

Here is a snipet from the article...with a link to the whole article below...

High-Tech Lights to Help Baby Sleep, or Students Stay Alert

By DIANE CARDWELLSEPT. 11, 2015

Like many expecting parents, Tracy Mizraki Kraft in Portola Valley, Calif., worried about how her newborn would sleep. So she paid attention when her doctor handed her a light bulb that he said would help her son do just that.

The small amber bulb, called Sleepy Baby, seemed to work well, she said, creating a soothing environment for Leo, now 16 months, as he drifted off to sleep.

For Ms. Mizraki Kraft, the bulb’s appeal was self-preservation. But it is part of a technological revolution coming to homes, offices, hotels and schools through lighting designed to undo the ill effects of artificial light — both overhead and on screen — and help regulate sleep, alertness and even people’s moods.

“Lighting is really not about a fixture in the ceiling anymore,” said Mariana Figueiro, who leads light and health research at the Lighting Research Center of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. “It’s about delivering individualized light treatments to people.”

The “green wave” embedded in the surface of a bike path in Copenhagen.Copenhagen Lighting the Way to Greener, More Efficient CitiesDEC. 8, 2014

Scientists have understood for years that different levels and colors of light can have powerful biological effects on humans. But that concept has been applied only with expensive bulbs — costing as much as $300,000 — for specialty applications like mimicking the 24-hour cycle for astronauts or treating jaundice in newborns.

The Sleepy Baby bulb at the Lighting Science Group's workshop in Melbourne, Fla. The company is devoted to the growing market for lighting to enhance rest or alertness, with bulbs like Good Night, and Awake and Alert. Credit Oscar Hidalgo for The New York Times

How Fluorescent Lights Affect You And Your Health

I came across this study on ergonomics.com about how Fluorescent Lights affects us and our health. Most schools world wide still use Fluorescent tubes and bulbs in the classroom. Why is cheaper really the way to go? I will attach the link but here's a list of the negative effects from working under these lights.

When most people need to replace their light bulbs, cost is the biggest factor in their decision. But the actual cost includes more than just the upfront price of each bulb you buy; you should also factor in how much each option will cost to operate over the years.

As with most things, it turns out a bit of money spent today can often lead to substantial savings in the long run.

Buying one quality bulb that lasts decades is less expensive in the long run than buying a dozen or more cheaper ones that keep burning out.